France Accuses Russia of Threatening Reconnaissance Plane Over Baltic Sea

Paris condemns Moscow's use of S-400 radar on a NATO mission aircraft as an 'unacceptable' act of intimidation.

France claims a Russian S-400 air defense system targeted a French reconnaissance plane with fire-control radar over the Baltic Sea.
The incident reportedly occurred during a NATO operation on the night of Thursday, January 16, 2025.
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the act as 'aggressive' and 'unacceptable,' accusing Russia of intimidation tactics.
Fire-control radars, such as the S-400 system, are typically used to provide targeting data for weapons systems.
This is not the first such accusation; France previously alleged Russian threats against its aircraft over the Black Sea in 2024.